2009 Kia Sportage Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 16about this part
- Share
- 20%of 80 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 49,425miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the air bags of the 2009 Kia Sportage, 20% of the 80 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 49,425 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“We really do not know what went wrong, we were on route 19 n. At hico,wv and we turned onto a side road,the car sled on the gravel we hit the bank and turned on our side. The air bags did not go off and we couldn't get the seat belts to release so we were trapped in the car.the car was a total loss.”
NHTSA complaint #11090331, filed 2018-04, 40,000 miles“On 12 july 2018 at 0530 am I was driving down county road 26 mankato mn to pickup my semi as I was aproaching 3rd ave stop sign I applied the brakes pedal went to floor I went through intersection slammed into a boulder wall head on at an estimated speed of 40-45mph. Air bags did not deploy,seat belt tensioner broke,wont retract back into holder. After getting car towed can see that the air bag sensor was crushed but no deployment spent 2 days in hospital. Thankfully nothing broke just alot of bruising. …”
NHTSA complaint #11111418, filed 2018-07, 145,000 miles“Heading down highway 198 from mabank tx to canton tx we had hit deer two jump out about 2 feet in from of us . We miss the first deer and second one we hit dead smack in front of car, it did so much damage had to replace most of the front end including radiator and cooling fan and battery because it had pop hole in front battery. But air bags never deployed. And that morning notice when person sitting in passenger side the air bag light above dash says passenger air bag on than says off. There pic attach shows damaged had to replaced cost about 1400 dollars or more in damage . …”
NHTSA complaint #11290442, filed 2019-12, 189,000 miles“The clock spring is not working which deactivates the air bag system and horn. This is an extremely dangerous condition. This should result in a recall immediately.”
NHTSA complaint #11240551, filed 2019-07, 44,000 miles“This is complaint 1 of 2. Complaint 2 is under a separate category ESC . The passenger air bag off indicator light on the dash came on, with an adult passenger sitting in the seat (vehicle in motion or stationary). At first it was random, and then it started staying on all the time. Then the air bag warning light on the instrument panel came on. The passenger restraint will also lock, and not release as it is supposed to. At this point I took it to the dealer. The technician made the following comments after running diagnostics: air bag light is on for a couple of reasons. …”
NHTSA complaint #11113188, filed 2018-07, 42,500 milesAir bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 4% |
| 2025 | 1 | 2% |
| 2024 | 4 | 5% |
| 2023 | 11 | 6% |
| 2022 | 2 | 4% |
| 2021 | 1 | 2% |
| 2020 | 3 | 2% |
| 2019 | 3 | 4% |
| 2018 | 1 | 1% |
| 2017 | 16 | 4% |
| 2016 | 5 | 4% |
| 2015 | 5 | 3% |
| 2014 | 3 | 2% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1% |
| 2012 | 4 | 1% |
| 2011 | 4 | 2% |
| 2010 | 4 | 20% |
| 2009 | 16 | 20% |
| 2008 | 5 | 5% |
| 2007 | 13 | 17% |
| 2006 | 38 | 34% |
| 2005 | 12 | 18% |
| 2002 | 17 | 7% |
| 2001 | 20 | 9% |
| 2000 | 18 | 6% |
| 1999 | 23 | 8% |
| 1998 | 11 | 4% |
| 1997 | 39 | 22% |
| 1996 | 9 | 16% |
| 1995 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2009 Kia Sportage
18 complaintsBrakes
15 complaintsSteering
14 complaintsEngine
10 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsElectronic stability control
7 complaintsExterior lighting
7 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
3 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2009 Kia Sportage
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology